Pakistan deploys first homemade drones, kills three

China showcased its drones in a massive parade marking the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II in Beijing on Sept. 3. Monday, the Pakistan military said it deployed three locally made drones, killing three militants near the Afghan border. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- The Pakistan military said it deployed three unmanned drones Monday and killed three militants near the Afghan border, marking the first time the country used drone technology on the battlefield.

Major Gen. Asim Bajwa, spokesman for the Pakistani military, said three "high-profile terrorist" were killed in the strike that hit a compound in the North Waziristan region. Officials did not further identify the dead.

Pakistan's drone program officially began in November 2013 and has rapidly expanded. Initially, the country said it would only use them for surveillance, but abandoned that stance after a terrorist attack at a school left about 150 students and teachers dead.

According to the New America Foundation, there is evidence eight other countries -- the United States, South Africa, France, Nigeria, Britain, Iran, Israel and China -- have already fitted drones with weapons.